Apparatus, computer readable medium, and method for spatial reuse in a high efficiency wireless local-area network

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, computer readable medium, and method for generating and receiving signal fields in a high efficiency wireless local-area network (WLAN) are disclosed. A high-efficiency wireless local-area network (HEW) device including circuitry is disclosed. The circuitry may be configured to: receive a physical (PHY) header or media access control (MAC) header from a second HEW station, wherein the PHY header or MAC header comprises an indication of a spatial reuse opportunity and a defer duration; adjust one or more parameters to determine whether or not the wireless medium is in use; and determine whether to transmit within the spatial reuse opportunity based on the adjusted one or more parameters. The circuitry may be configured to adjust one or more parameters to determine whether or not the wireless medium is in use in where the parameters are signal detect (SD) threshold, a mid-packet detection (MPD) threshold, and an energy detection (ED) threshold.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119(e) toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/127,976, filed Mar. 4,2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/072,318, filedOct. 29, 2014, [Reference: 4884.182prv, P75246Z] which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers(IEEE) 802.11. Some embodiments relate to high-efficiency wirelesslocal-area networks (HEWs). Some embodiments relate to IEEE 802.11ax.Some embodiments relate to methods and devices for spatial reuse. Someembodiments relate to methods and devices for deferral rules for spatialreuse. Some embodiments relate to power adjustment for spatial reuse.

BACKGROUND

Efficient use of the resources of a wireless local-area network (WLAN)is important to provide bandwidth and acceptable response times to theusers of the WLAN. One way to increase the efficiency of a WLAN isspatial reuse where wireless devices may spatially reuse frequencies ofthe wireless medium. However, often spatial reuse is difficult toachieve. Moreover, wireless devices need to operate with both newerprotocols and with legacy devices.

Thus, there are general needs for improved methods, apparatuses, andcomputer readable media for spatial reuse in WLANs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a WLAN in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a spatial reuse in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a spatial reuse in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for spatial reuse in accordance with someembodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a HEW station in accordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustratespecific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practicethem. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical,process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodimentsmay be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments.Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalentsof those claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a WLAN 100 in accordance with some embodiments. TheWLAN may comprise a basis service set (BSS) 100 that may include amaster station 102, which may be an AP, a plurality of high-efficiencywireless (HEW) (e.g., IEEE 802.11ax) STAs 104 and a plurality of legacy(e.g., IEEE 802.11n/ac) devices 106.

The master station 102 may be an AP using the IEEE 802.11 to transmitand receive. The master station 102 may be a base station. The masterstation 102 may use other communications protocols as well as the IEEE802.11 protocol. The IEEE 802.11 protocol may be IEEE 802.11ax. The IEEE802.11 protocol may include using OFDMA, time division multiple access(TDMA), and/or code division multiple access (CDMA). The IEEE 802.11protocol may include a multiple access technique. For example, the IEEE802.11 protocol may include space-division multiple access (SDMA) and/orMU-MIMO.

The legacy devices 106 may operate in accordance with one or more ofIEEE 802.11 a/g/ag/n/ac, IEEE 802.11-2012, or another legacy wirelesscommunication standard. The legacy devices 106 may be STAs or IEEE STAs.

The HEW STAs 104 may be wireless transmit and receive devices such ascellular telephone, handheld wireless device, wireless glasses, wirelesswatch, wireless personal device, tablet, or another device that may betransmitting and receiving using the IEEE 802.11 protocol such as IEEE802.11ax or another wireless protocol. In some embodiments, the HEW STAs104 may be termed high efficiency (HE) stations.

The BSS 100 may operate on a primary channel and one or more secondarychannels or sub-channels. The BSS 100 may include one or more masterstations 102. In accordance with some embodiments, the master station102 may communicate with one or more of the HEW devices 104 on one ormore of the secondary channels or sub-channels or the primary channel.In accordance with some embodiments, the master station 102 communicateswith the legacy devices 106 on the primary channel. In accordance withsome embodiments, the master station 102 may be configured tocommunicate concurrently with one or more of the HEW STAs 104 on one ormore of the secondary channels and a legacy device 106 utilizing onlythe primary channel and not utilizing any of the secondary channels.

The master station 102 may communicate with legacy devices 106 inaccordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. In exampleembodiments, the master station 102 may also be configured tocommunicate with HEW STAs 104 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11communication techniques. Legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniquesmay refer to any IEEE 802.11 communication technique prior to IEEE802.11ax.

In some embodiments, a HEW frame may be configurable to have the samebandwidth as a sub-channel, and the bandwidth may be one of 20 MHz, 40MHz, or 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz contiguous bandwidths or an 80+80 MHz(160 MHz) non-contiguous bandwidth. In some embodiments, bandwidths of 1MHz, 1.25 MHz, 2.0 MHz, 2.5 MHz, 5 MHz and 10 MHz, or a combinationthereof or another bandwidth that is less or equal to the availablebandwidth, may also be used. A HEW frame may be configured fortransmitting a number of spatial streams, which may be in accordancewith MU-MIMO.

In other embodiments, the master station 102, HEW STA 104, and/or legacydevice 106 may also implement different technologies such as codedivision multiple access (CDMA) 2000, CDMA 2000 1X, CDMA 2000Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000),Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Long TermEvolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), EnhancedData rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), IEEE 802.16(i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)),BlueTooth®, or other technologies.

Some embodiments relate to HEW communications. In accordance with someIEEE 802.11ax embodiments, a master station 102 may operate as a masterstation which may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium (e.g.,during a contention period) to receive exclusive control of the mediumfor an HEW control period. In some embodiments, the HEW control periodmay be termed a transmission opportunity (TXOP). The master station 102may transmit a HEW master-sync transmission, which may be a triggerframe or HEW control and schedule transmission, at the beginning of theHEW control period. The master station 102 may transmit a time durationof the TXOP and sub-channel information. During the HEW control period,HEW STAs 104 may communicate with the master station 102 in accordancewith a non-contention based multiple access technique such as OFDMA orMU-MIMO. This is unlike conventional WLAN communications in whichdevices communicate in accordance with a contention-based communicationtechnique, rather than a multiple access technique. During the HEWcontrol period, the master station 102 may communicate with HEW stations104 using one or more HEW frames. During the HEW control period, the HEWSTAs 104 may operate on a sub-channel smaller than the operating rangeof the master station 102. During the HEW control period, legacystations refrain from communicating. In accordance with someembodiments, during the master-sync transmission the HEW STAs 104 maycontend for the wireless medium with the legacy devices 106 beingexcluded from contending for the wireless medium during the master-synctransmission.

In some embodiments, the multiple-access technique used during the HEWcontrol period may be a scheduled OFDMA technique, although this is nota requirement. In some embodiments, the multiple access technique may bea time-division multiple access (TDMA) technique or a frequency divisionmultiple access (FDMA) technique. In some embodiments, the multipleaccess technique may be a space-division multiple access (SDMA)technique.

The master station 102 may also communicate with legacy stations 106and/or HEW stations 104 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11communication techniques. In some embodiments, the master station 102may also be configurable to communicate with HEW stations 104 outsidethe HEW control period in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11communication techniques, although this is not a requirement.

In example embodiments, the master station 102 and/or HEW stations 104are configured to perform one or more of the functions and/or methodsdescribed herein in conjunction with FIGS. 1-5 such as performingspatial reuse by using deferral rules.

FIG. 2 illustrates a spatial reuse 200 in accordance with someembodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 2 are a wireless device 202, a HEWdevice 204, time 206 along a horizontal axis, time 208 along ahorizontal axis, PHY header 210, a packet 212, a back-off 214, a time216, a packet 218, and a spatial reuse opportunity 220.

The wireless device 202 may be a master station 102, HEW station 104, ora legacy device 106. The HEW device 204 may be a master station 102 orHEW station 104. The wireless device 202 transmits packet 212 with a PHYheader 210. The HEW device 204 at time 216 identifies a spatial reuseopportunity 220. The HEW device 204 may identify the spatial reuseopportunity 220 based on an indication in the PHY header 210 that thereis a spatial reuse opportunity 220. The PHY header 210 may include anindication of one or more parameters for the HEW device 204 to usewithin the spatial reuse opportunity 220. For example, the PHY header210 may include a transmission power and/or a backoff window size forthe HEW device 204 to use.

The HEW device 204 may then attempt to use the spatial reuse opportunity220. The HEW device 204 may perform a clear-channel assessment (CCA)with a backoff 214 window. The HEW device 204 may backoff 214 for a timebefore performing the CCA. The HEW device 204 may modify one or moreparameters of the window and/or CCA parameters as described inconjunction with FIG. 4. The HEW device 204 may then transmit a packet218 within the spatial reuse opportunity 220. As described inconjunction with FIG. 4, the HEW device 204 may adjust the transmitpower, CCA parameters, and/or the backoff window for the spatial reuseopportunity 220.

FIG. 3 illustrates a spatial reuse 300 in accordance with someembodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 3 are a wireless device 202, HEW device204, time 206 along a horizontal axis, time 208 along a horizontal axis,PHY header 210, a packet 212, a back-off 214, a time 316, a packet 218,and a spatial reuse opportunity 220.

The wireless device 202 transmits packet 212 with a PHY header 210 and aMAC header 211. The HEW device 204 at time 316 identifies a spatialreuse opportunity 220. The HEW device 204 may identify the spatial reuseopportunity 220 based on an indication in the MAC header 211 that thereis a spatial reuse opportunity 220. The MAC header 211 and/or PHY header210 may include an indication of one or more parameters for the HEWdevice 204 to use within the spatial reuse opportunity 220. For example,the MAC header 211 may include a transmission power and/or a backoffwindow size for the HEW device 204 to use.

Spatial reuse may be important for efficiently using the resources of awireless local-area network (WLAN). In example embodiments, spatialreuse may be achieved by changing the deferral behaviors of the HEWstations 104, master station 102, and/or legacy devices 106 because thesystem performance may depend at least partially on the deferralbehavior of the HEW stations 104, master station 102, and/or legacydevices 106.

In example embodiments, the CCA and the transmission power of thewireless devices 102, 104, 106 are used to control deferral behavior.The optimal threshold and power often depend on the topology. Further,it may take lots of signaling among wireless devices 102, 104, 106 toconvey the information so that a suitable threshold and power can bedecided.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for spatial reuse in accordance withsome embodiments. The method 400 may begin at operation 402 withidentify spatial reuse opportunity. For example, referring to FIGS. 2and 3, a PHY header 210 and/or MAC header 211 may include an indicationthat there is a spatial reuse opportunity 220. The HEW device 204 mayreceive the PHY header 210 and/or MAC header 211 and identify thespatial reuse opportunity 220.

The method 400 continues at operation 404 with adjust deferralparameters. For example, in some embodiments a HEW station 104 mayignore the medium busy signaling due to a CCA threshold.

The HEW station 104 and/or master station 102 may also ignore one ormore of the thresholds used for CCA, which may include an energydetection (ED) threshold, a signal detect (SD) threshold, and amid-packet detection (MPD) threshold. For example, the HEW station 104may determine the CCA by ignoring the SD threshold and using the EDthreshold to determine whether or not the channel is busy.

The HEW station 104 and/or master station 102 may ignore the power ofthe PHY header 210 and/or MAC header 211 when determining SD, ED, orMPD. For example, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the HEW device 204 maydetermine a power, X, of the received PHY header 210 and/or MAC header211, and then during after the backoff 214, subtract X from the SD, ED,and/or MPD when determining the CCA and whether or not the SD, ED,and/or MPD threshold is exceeded.

The HEW station 104 and/or master station 102 may exclude the totalpower of the IEEE 802.11 signals, T, from the MPD threshold. Forexample, the HEW device 204 may determine T when the HEW device 204receives the PHY header 210 and/or the MAC header 211, and then maysubtract T from the power of the IEEE 802.11 signals after the backoff214 when determining CCA and whether or not the MPD threshold isexceeded.

In some embodiments the HEW station 104 may raise a CCA thresholdincluding SD, ED, and/or MPD for a period of time after receiving theindication of the spatial reuse opportunity. For example, referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the HEW device 204 may raise one or more thresholds ofSD, ED, and/or MDP after receiving the PHY header 210 and/or MAC header211. The HEW device 204 may keep the higher threshold for the durationof the spatial reuse opportunity 220.

The ED threshold may be modified to Z+Total Power, where Total Power isthe total power of all the signals received by the HEW station 104. Zmay be an value such as an integer. For example, the HEW device 204 maymeasure the Total Power when receiving the PHY header 210 and/or MACheader 211. The HEW device 204 may then change the ED threshold toZ+Total Power and then use the modified ED threshold during the spatialreuse opportunity 220 or for another duration.

In some embodiments, the HEW station 104 may adjust the ED thresholdaccording to Z+(Total Power−X), where Total Power and X are as definedabove. For example, the HEW device 204 may determine the Total Power ofall signals received during the reception of the PHY header 210 and/orMAC header 211 and the power, X of the PHY header 210 and/or MAC header211. The HEW device 204 may then set the ED threshold to be Z+(TotalPower−X) for the duration of the spatial reuse opportunity 220 or foranother duration. In some embodiments, the HEW station 104 may notchange the ED threshold.

The HEW station 104 and/or master station 102 may adjust the MPDthreshold according to Z+T, where T is as defined above the power of theIEEE 802.11 signals, and Z is a constant or an integer. For example,referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the HEW device 204 may determine T when thePHY header 210 and/or MAC header 211 is received and adjust the MPDthreshold to Z+T for the duration of the spatial reuse opportunity 220or for another duration.

The HEW station 104 and/or master station 102 may adjust the MPDthreshold to be Z+(T−X) where T and X are as defined above. For example,the HEW device 204, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, may determine T thetotal power of all the IEEE 802.11 signals for T and the power of thePHY header 210 and/or MAC header 211 for X. The HEW device 204 may thenset the MPD threshold for the duration of the spatial reuse opportunity220 or for another duration. The HEW station 104 and/or master station102 may adjust the MPD to be Z+X, where Z and X are as defined above.For example, the HEW device 204, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, may measurethe power of the PHY header 210 and/or MAC header 211 as X, and thenadjust the MDP threshold to be Z+X for the spatial reuse opportunity 220or another duration.

The HEW station 104 and/or master station 102 may adjust the SDthreshold to Z+Total Power where Z and Total Power are as defined above.For example, the HEW device 204, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, maydetermine the Total Power of all the signals received when the PHYheader 210 and/or MAC header 211 are received. The HEW device 204 maythen adjust the SD to Z+Total Power for the spatial reuse opportunity220 or another duration. In some embodiments raising the SD to Z+TotalPower will have the following technical effect. New incoming IEEE 802.11signals with signal strength, N, where N is a power less than TotalPower, will have a signal to noise ratio (SINR) of N/(Total Power+N),which will be a low number, and hence the new signal will likely fail.Hence, raising SD to Z+Total Power may have the effect of ignoring anynew signal that has a power less than the Total Power.

The HEW station 104 may determine to maintain the conditions that SDthreshold is less than the MPD threshold and that the MPD threshold isless than the ED threshold.

The HEW station 104 and/or master station 102 may set one or more of theED threshold, MPD threshold, and/or SD threshold. Z may be defined in acommunication protocol such as IEEE 802.11ax. In some embodiments Z maybe signaled by the master station 102 and/or a HEW station 104. In someembodiments Z may be signaled in the PHY header and/or the MAC header.In some embodiments Z may be negotiated and used among more than one HEWstation 104 and/or master station 102.

The method 400 continues at operation 406 with backoff. For example, theHEW device, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, may determine a window forbacking off, and backoff 214 for the duration of the window. In someembodiments the HEW station 104 may use the current backoff window size.

In some embodiments the HEW station 104 may have a separate window forbackoff within the spatial reuse opportunity. The window value may besignaled in the PHY header and/or MAC header. The window value may bebased on a window value from a previous spatial reuse opportunity. Thewindow value may be a new random value such as a value between 0 and 16.The update of the window inside the spatial reuse opportunity may beindependent from the update of the window outside the spatial reuseopportunity.

The method 400 continues at operation 408 with determine whether thewireless medium is clear. For example, the HEW device 204 may determineusing the one or more adjusted CCA thresholds whether or not thewireless medium is clear for transmitting after the backoff 214. The HEWdevice 204 may measure the signals only on a sub-channel of the wirelessmedium. All of the CCA thresholds may be adjusted based on measurementsof a sub-channel of the wireless medium such as X, T, and Total Powermay be measured for a sub-channel or a portion of the wireless medium.

The method 400 continues at operation 410 with is wireless medium clear.If the wireless medium is determined to be clear by the CCA, then themethod 400 continues at operation 412 with transmit within spatial reuseopportunity. For example, the HEW station 104 and/or master station 102may transmit a packet or frame. For example, HEW device 204, referringto FIGS. 2 and 3, may transmit packet 218.

If the wireless medium is determined not to be clear by CCA, then themethod 400 may return to backoff where the HEW station 104 may backofffor a time period. The method 400 may end within or after the spatialreuse opportunity.

FIG. 5 illustrates a HEW device in accordance with some embodiments. HEWdevice 500 may be an HEW compliant device that may be arranged tocommunicate with one or more other HEW devices, such as HEW STAs 104(FIG. 1) or master station 102 (FIG. 1) as well as communicate withlegacy devices 106 (FIG. 1). HEW STAs 104 and legacy devices 106 mayalso be referred to as HEW devices and legacy STAs, respectively. HEWdevice 500 may be suitable for operating as master station 102 (FIG. 1)or a HEW STA 104 (FIG. 1). In accordance with embodiments, HEW device500 may include, among other things, a transmit/receive element 501 (forexample an antenna), a transceiver 502, physical (PHY) circuitry 504,and media access control (MAC) circuitry 506. PHY circuitry 504 and MACcircuitry 506 may be HEW compliant layers and may also be compliant withone or more legacy IEEE 802.11 standards. MAC circuitry 506 may bearranged to configure packets such as a physical layer convergenceprocedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDUs) and arranged to transmit andreceive PPDUs, among other things. HEW device 500 may also includecircuitry 508 and memory 510 configured to perform the variousoperations described herein. The circuitry 508 may be coupled to thetransceiver 502, which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element501. While FIG. 5 depicts the circuitry 508 and the transceiver 502 asseparate components, the circuitry 508 and the transceiver 502 may beintegrated together in an electronic package or chip.

In some embodiments, the MAC circuitry 506 may be arranged to contendfor a wireless medium during a contention period to receive control ofthe medium for the HEW control period and configure an HEW PPDU. In someembodiments, the MAC circuitry 506 may be arranged to contend for thewireless medium based on channel contention settings, a transmittingpower level, and a CCA level.

The PHY circuitry 504 may be arranged to transmit the HEW PPDU. The PHYcircuitry 504 may include circuitry for modulation/demodulation,upconversion/downconversion, filtering, amplification, etc. In someembodiments, the circuitry 508 may include one or more processors. Thecircuitry 508 may be configured to perform functions based oninstructions being stored in a RAM or ROM, or based on special purposecircuitry. The circuitry 508 may be termed processing circuitry inaccordance with some embodiments. The circuitry 508 may include aprocessor such as a general purpose processor or special purposeprocessor. The circuitry 508 may implement one or more functionsassociated with transmit/receive elements 501, the transceiver 502, thePHY circuitry 504, the MAC circuitry 506, and/or the memory 510.

In some embodiments, the circuitry 508 may be configured to perform oneor more of the functions and/or methods described herein and/or inconjunction with FIGS. 1-5 such as performing spatial reuse by usingdeferral rules.

In some embodiments, the transmit/receive elements 501 may be two ormore antennas that may be coupled to the PHY circuitry 504 and arrangedfor sending and receiving signals including transmission of the HEWpackets. The transceiver 502 may transmit and receive data such as HEWPPDU and packets that include an indication that the HEW device 500should adapt the channel contention settings according to settingsincluded in the packet. The memory 510 may store information forconfiguring the other circuitry to perform operations for configuringand transmitting HEW packets and performing the various operations toperform one or more of the functions and/or methods described hereinand/or in conjunction with FIGS. 1-5 such as performing spatial reuse byusing deferral rules.

In some embodiments, the HEW device 500 may be configured to communicateusing OFDM communication signals over a multicarrier communicationchannel. In some embodiments, HEW device 500 may be configured tocommunicate in accordance with one or more specific communicationstandards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) standards including IEEE 802.11-2012, 802.11n-2009,802.11ac-2013, 802.11ax, DensiFi, standards and/or proposedspecifications for WLANs, or other standards as described in conjunctionwith FIG. 1, although the scope of the invention is not limited in thisrespect as they may also be suitable to transmit and/or receivecommunications in accordance with other techniques and standards. Insome embodiments, the HEW device 500 may use 4x symbol duration of802.11n or 802.11ac.

In some embodiments, an HEW device 500 may be part of a portablewireless communication device, such as a personal digital assistant(PDA), a laptop or portable computer with wireless communicationcapability, a web tablet, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a wirelessheadset, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digital camera, anaccess point, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart ratemonitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), an access point, a basestation, a transmit/receive device for a wireless standard such as802.11 or 802.16, or other device that may receive and/or transmitinformation wirelessly. In some embodiments, the mobile device mayinclude one or more of a keyboard, a display, a non-volatile memoryport, multiple antennas, a graphics processor, an application processor,speakers, and other mobile device elements. The display may be an LCDscreen including a touch screen.

The transmit/receive element 501 may comprise one or more directional oromnidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas,monopole antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas orother types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals. In somemultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) embodiments, the antennas may beeffectively separated to take advantage of spatial diversity and thedifferent channel characteristics that may result.

Although the HEW device 500 is illustrated as having several separatefunctional elements, one or more of the functional elements may becombined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configuredelements, such as processing elements including digital signalprocessors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements. For example, someelements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs,field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) andcombinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing atleast the functions described herein. In some embodiments, thefunctional elements may refer to one or more processes operating on oneor more processing elements.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments. Example 1 is anapparatus of a high-efficiency wireless local-area network (HEW) device.The apparatus including circuitry configured to: receive a physical(PHY) header or media access control (MAC) header from a second HEWstation, wherein the PHY header or MAC header comprises an indication ofa spatial reuse opportunity; adjust one or more parameters to determinewhether or not the wireless medium is in use; and determine whether totransmit within the spatial reuse opportunity based on the adjusted oneor more parameters.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally includewhere the circuitry is further configured to: backoff after theindication of the spatial reuse opportunity is received, where a windowfor the backoff is one from the following group: an existing backoffwindow for deferral and a separate window for backoff within the spatialreuse opportunity; and determine a clear channel assessment (CCA) afterthe backoff, wherein the CCA is determined based on the adjusted one ormore parameters.

In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 2 can optionally includewhere the separate window for backoff within the spatial reuseopportunity is one from the following group: a random value zero orgreater and a value based on an updated value from a previous spatialreuse opportunity.

In Example 4, the subject matter of Example 2 can optionally includewhere the circuitry is further configured to: if it is determined thatthe CCA indicates a channel is clear for the HEW device to transmit,transmit a packet.

In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 4 can optionally includewhere the circuitry is further configured to: transmit the packet with atarget power or lower, where the target power is one or more from thefollowing group: a sent transmit power indicated in the PHY header orthe MAC header, a standard power indicated in a communication protocolspecification for use within spatial reuse opportunities, and a reducedpower that is lower than a normal power.

In Example 6, the subject matter of Example 5 can optionally includewhere the circuitry is further configured to: reduce a modulation andcoding scheme to accommodate the target power.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry is further configured to: determine a powerof the PHY header or MAC header, and adjust one or more parameters sothat the power of the PHY header or MAC header is excluded from thedetermination of one or more of the following group: an energy detection(ED) threshold, a signal detect (SD) threshold, and a mid-packetdetection (MPD) threshold.

In Example 8, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry is further configured to: determine a totalpower received within the PHY header or MAC header, and adjust one ormore thresholds to be the total power plus a constant, where the one ormore thresholds is one or more of the following group: an energydetection (ED) threshold, a signal detect (SD) threshold, and amid-packet detection (MPD) threshold.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-8 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry is further configured to: determine a totalpower received within the PHY header or MAC header and a power of thePHY header or MAC header, and adjust one or more thresholds to be thetotal power received minus the power of the PHY header or MAC headerplus a constant, wherein the one or more thresholds is one or more ofthe following group: an energy detection (ED) threshold, a signal detect(SD) threshold, and a mid-packet detection (MPD) threshold.

In Example 10, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-9 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry is further configured to: if it isdetermined not to transmit within the spatial reuse opportunity, deferbased on a deferral duration in the PHY header or MAC header.

In Example 11, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-10 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry is further configured to: adjust one or moreparameters to determine whether or not the wireless medium is in use inaccordance with the following conditions: a signal detect (SD) thresholdis less than a mid-packet detection (MPD) threshold and the MPD is thenthan an energy detection (ED) threshold.

In Example 12, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-11 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry is further configured to: adjust one or moreof the following parameters of clear-channel assessment: a signal detect(SD) threshold, a mid-packet detection (MPD) threshold, and an energydetection (ED) threshold.

In Example 13, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-12 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry is configured to operate in accordance withorthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) and Institute ofElectronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax.

In Example 14, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-13 can optionallyinclude where the HEW device is one from the following group: a HEWaccess point and a HEW station.

In Example 15, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-14 can optionallyinclude where the circuitry further comprises processing circuitry andtransceiver circuitry.

In Example 16, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-15 can optionallyinclude memory coupled to the circuitry; and, one or more antennascoupled to the circuitry.

Example 17 is a method performed by a high-efficiency wirelesslocal-area network (HEW) station. The method including receiving aphysical (PHY) header or media access control (MAC) header from a secondHEW station, wherein the PHY header or MAC header comprises anindication of a spatial reuse opportunity; adjusting one or moreparameters to determine whether or not the wireless medium is in use;and determining whether to transmit within the spatial reuse opportunitybased on the adjusted one or more parameters.

In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 17 can optionally includebacking off after the indication of the spatial reuse opportunity isreceived, wherein a window for the backoff is one from the followinggroup: an existing backoff window for deferral and a separate window forbackoff within the spatial reuse opportunity; and determining a clearchannel assessment (CCA) after the backoff, wherein the CCA isdetermined based on the adjusted one or more parameters.

In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 can optionally includewhere the separate window for backoff within the spatial reuseopportunity is one from the following group: a random value and a valuebased on an updated value from a previous spatial reuse opportunity.

In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 19 can optionally includetransmitting a packet, if it is determined that the CCA indicates achannel is clear for the HEW device to transmit.

In Example 21, the subject matter of Example 20 can optionally includetransmitting the packet with a target power or lower, wherein the targetpower is one or more from the following group: a sent transmit powerindicated in the PHY header or the MAC header, a standard powerindicated in a communication protocol specification for use withinspatial reuse opportunities, and a reduced power that is lower than anormal power.

In Example 22, the subject matter of any of Examples 17-21 canoptionally include adjusting one or more parameters to determine whetheror not the wireless medium is in use in accordance with the followingconditions: a signal detect (SD) threshold is less than a mid-packetdetection (MPD) threshold and the MPD is then than an energy detection(ED) threshold.

Example 23 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thatstores instructions for execution by one or more processors, theinstructions to configure the one or more processors to cause ahigh-efficiency wireless local-area network (HEW) device to: receive aphysical (PHY) header or media access control (MAC) header from a secondHEW station, wherein the PHY header or MAC header comprises anindication of a spatial reuse opportunity; adjust one or more parametersto determine whether or not the wireless medium is in use; and determinewhether to transmit within the spatial reuse opportunity based on theadjusted one or more parameters.

In Example 24, the subject matter of Example 23 can optionally includewhere the instructions are further configured to cause the HEW deviceto: transmit the packet with a target power or lower, where the targetpower is one or more from the following group: a sent transmit powerindicated in the PHY header or the MAC header, a standard powerindicated in a communication protocol specification for use withinspatial reuse opportunities, and a reduced power that is lower than anormal power.

In Example 25, the subject matter of Examples 23 and 24 can optionallyinclude where the instructions are further configured to cause the HEWdevice to: adjust one or more parameters to determine whether or not thewireless medium is in use in accordance with the following conditions: asignal detect (SD) threshold is less than a mid-packet detection (MPD)threshold and the MPD is then than an energy detection (ED) threshold.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b)requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the natureand gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scopeor meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus of a high-efficiency wirelesslocal-area network (HEW) device, the apparatus comprising circuitryconfigured to: receive a physical (PHY) header or media access control(MAC) header from a second HEW station, wherein the PHY header or MACheader comprises an indication of a spatial reuse opportunity; adjustone or more parameters to determine whether or not the wireless mediumis in use; and determine whether to transmit within the spatial reuseopportunity based on the adjusted one or more parameters.
 2. Theapparatus of the HEW device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to: backoff after the indication of the spatial reuseopportunity is received, wherein a window for the backoff is one fromthe following group: an existing backoff window for deferral and aseparate window for backoff within the spatial reuse opportunity; anddetermine a clear channel assessment (CCA) after the backoff, whereinthe CCA is determined based on the adjusted one or more parameters. 3.The apparatus of the HEW device of claim 2, wherein the separate windowfor backoff within the spatial reuse opportunity is one from thefollowing group: a random value zero or greater and a value based on anupdated value from a previous spatial reuse opportunity.
 4. Theapparatus of the HEW device of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to: if it is determined that the CCA indicates a channel isclear for the HEW device to transmit, transmit a packet.
 5. Theapparatus of the HEW device of claim 4, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to: transmit the packet with a target power or lower, whereinthe target power is one or more from the following group: a senttransmit power indicated in the PHY header or the MAC header, a standardpower indicated in a communication protocol specification for use withinspatial reuse opportunities, and a reduced power that is lower than anormal power.
 6. The apparatus of the HEW device of claim 5, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to: reduce a modulation and codingscheme to accommodate the target power.
 7. The apparatus of the HEWdevice of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:determine a power of the PHY header or MAC header, and adjust one ormore parameters so that the power of the PHY header or MAC header isexcluded from the determination of one or more of the following group:an energy detection (ED) threshold, a signal detect (SD) threshold, anda mid-packet detection (MPD) threshold.
 8. The apparatus of the HEWdevice of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:determine a total power received within the PHY header or MAC header,and adjust one or more thresholds to be the total power plus a constant,wherein the one or more thresholds is one or more of the followinggroup: an energy detection (ED) threshold, a signal detect (SD)threshold, and a mid-packet detection (MPD) threshold.
 9. The apparatusof the HEW device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to: determine a total power received within the PHY header orMAC header and a power of the PHY header or MAC header, and adjust oneor more thresholds to be the total power received minus the power of thePHY header or MAC header plus a constant, wherein the one or morethresholds is one or more of the following group: an energy detection(ED) threshold, a signal detect (SD) threshold, and a mid-packetdetection (MPD) threshold.
 10. The apparatus of the HEW device of claim1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: if it is determinednot to transmit within the spatial reuse opportunity, defer based on adeferral duration in the PHY header or MAC header.
 11. The apparatus ofthe HEW device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configuredto: adjust one or more parameters to determine whether or not thewireless medium is in use in accordance with the following conditions: asignal detect (SD) threshold is less than a mid-packet detection (MPD)threshold and the MPD is then than an energy detection (ED) threshold.12. The apparatus of the HEW device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry isfurther configured to: adjust one or more of the following parameters ofclear-channel assessment: a signal detect (SD) threshold, a mid-packetdetection (MPD) threshold, and an energy detection (ED) threshold. 13.The apparatus of the HEW device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry isconfigured to operate in accordance with orthogonal frequency-divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) and Institute of Electronic and ElectricalEngineers (IEEE) 802.11ax.
 14. The apparatus of the HEW device of claim1, wherein the HEW device is one from the following group: a HEW accesspoint and a HEW station.
 15. The apparatus of the HEW device of claim 1wherein the circuitry further comprises processing circuitry andtransceiver circuitry.
 16. The apparatus of the HEW device of claim 1,further comprising memory coupled to the circuitry; and, one or moreantennas coupled to the circuitry.
 17. A method performed by ahigh-efficiency wireless local-area network (HEW) station, the methodcomprising: receiving a physical (PHY) header or media access control(MAC) header from a second HEW station, wherein the PHY header or MACheader comprises an indication of a spatial reuse opportunity; adjustingone or more parameters to determine whether or not the wireless mediumis in use; and determining whether to transmit within the spatial reuseopportunity based on the adjusted one or more parameters.
 18. The methodof claim 17, further comprising: backing off after the indication of thespatial reuse opportunity is received, wherein a window for the backoffis one from the following group: an existing backoff window for deferraland a separate window for backoff within the spatial reuse opportunity;and determining a clear channel assessment (CCA) after the backoff,wherein the CCA is determined based on the adjusted one or moreparameters.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the separate window forbackoff within the spatial reuse opportunity is one from the followinggroup: a random value and a value based on an updated value from aprevious spatial reuse opportunity.
 20. The method of claim 19, furthercomprising: transmitting a packet, if it is determined that the CCAindicates a channel is clear for the HEW device to transmit.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, further comprising: transmitting the packet with atarget power or lower, wherein the target power is one or more from thefollowing group: a sent transmit power indicated in the PHY header orthe MAC header, a standard power indicated in a communication protocolspecification for use within spatial reuse opportunities, and a reducedpower that is lower than a normal power.
 22. The method of claim 17,further comprising: adjusting one or more parameters to determinewhether or not the wireless medium is in use in accordance with thefollowing conditions: a signal detect (SD) threshold is less than amid-packet detection (MPD) threshold and the MPD is then than an energydetection (ED) threshold.
 23. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors,the instructions to configure the one or more processors to cause ahigh-efficiency wireless local-area network (HEW) device to: receive aphysical (PHY) header or media access control (MAC) header from a secondHEW station, wherein the PHY header or MAC header comprises anindication of a spatial reuse opportunity; adjust one or more parametersto determine whether or not the wireless medium is in use; and determinewhether to transmit within the spatial reuse opportunity based on theadjusted one or more parameters.
 24. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the instructionsare further configured to cause the HEW device to: transmit the packetwith a target power or lower, wherein the target power is one or morefrom the following group: a sent transmit power indicated in the PHYheader or the MAC header, a standard power indicated in a communicationprotocol specification for use within spatial reuse opportunities, and areduced power that is lower than a normal power.
 25. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the instructionsare further configured to cause the HEW device to: adjust one or moreparameters to determine whether or not the wireless medium is in use inaccordance with the following conditions: a signal detect (SD) thresholdis less than a mid-packet detection (MPD) threshold and the MPD is thenthan an energy detection (ED) threshold.